Tais Sirote’s surreal photos blur the line between real and rendered

Surreal and polished, Tais Sirote’s still lifes are often mistaken for CGI images. It makes sense – “I do often get inspired by CGI artists,” she says. Born in Argentina and raised in Tenerife, Tais now works as a freelance photographer and art director in London. Her impressive portfolio includes work for clients like Apple, Prada and Vogue, all with her signature mark of “hyperreal aesthetics with elements of science and technology”.

Tais’ still lifes appear digitally-rendered, but her practice is surprisingly tactile. She experiments with darkroom techniques like photograms and directly paints onto her prints with an airbrush. “I draw inspiration from paintings, illustrations, movies, and even everyday objects or colour combinations, but it mostly comes from emotions or aspects of my personal life,” she says. At a recent exhibition at East London’s 1014 Gallery, Tais collaborated with set designer Gemma Tickle to exhibit a series of one-off pieces. They also produced a stack of playing cards as a memento of the show. “The tangibility of print is really important to me. It changes the way you experience the work,” she says.

Tais began taking photos aged 10; “I was lucky to have an older brother who was passionate about photography and taught me how to use a camera at an early age,” she says. She went on to study graphic design and illustration, but “I realised [it] wasn’t for me,” she says. “So I committed to photography full-time.” While objects remain central to her practice, Tais is currently moving towards portraiture. She wants to photograph those who lack visibility, to show their strength and beauty. “It’s a reminder to stay true to yourself,” she reflects.